8 DrrectTor’s REPorRT OF THE 
ary 19, 1897, plans presented by the director were approved and it 
was unanimously voted to ask the Legislature then in session for 
$41,000, with which to erect the proposed building. 
“This action was due to a clear recognition of the necessity for 
providing larger and more efficient quarters in which to locate 
the existing departments of dairy investigation, horticulture and 
entomology and the departments of botany and bacteriology to be 
created. The sum of money named was the estimate of the State 
Architect based upon preliminary plans which had been submitted 
to him. 
‘A bill framed in accordance with the action of the Board was 
introduced into the Senate by the Hon. John Raines and into the 
Assembly by the Hon. Murray Benham, gentlemen who ably rep- 
resented this section of New York in the Legislature then in 
session, and who faithfully proseeuted and defended the interests 
of the measure which was placed in their charge. 
“ The bill was favorably reported from both the Ways and Means 
and Finance committees and received unanimous passage in both 
the Senate and Assembly. It was sent to the Governor about the 
middle of April and was approved by him on April 21, 1897. This 
act now constitutes Chapter 315 of the Laws of 1897. 
“The unobstructed passage of this measure in a year when 
economy was the watchword and its signing by the Governor 
when it was entirely clear that many other requests must be de- 
nied are sufficiently noteworthy to call for some explanation. 
There was, first of all, a widespread and earnest representation 
to the members of the Legislature by many of their prominent 
agricultural constituents of the desirability of the proposed en- 
largement of facilities for investigation at the State Experiment 
Station. The State Grange, the State Dairymen’s Association and 
several other prominent agricultural organizations passed resolu- 
tions favoring the erection of the proposed building. 
“In the seeond place, those leaders in the Legislature who ~ 
were in the position to exert a large influence upon legislation were 
